The Trifecta
After having a very structured season last year, I wanted to switch things up. This year was about experimentation. A return to the “trial of miles” mentality. I started the season with my first road marathon, then moved into something else I’d never tried before: stacking three races on back-to-back weekends.
When I laid it out, I figured by race three, I’d be deep in the cave, the kind of grind you only hit toward the end of a 100 miler. But like any plan, it’s all good until life punches you in the face. And it did. Stress, logistics, recovery all part of the equation. Had me questioning can I complete what I set out to do.
The Races
Race 1: Shore2Shore 50K
A local classic that spans Long Island’s Greenbelt trail system, from the Sound to the Ocean. My goal going in: PR the 50K.
I hit it but just barely. I had a solid plan and felt fit, but my nutrition was off, and I was deeper in the hurt than I expected toward the end. I didn’t feel as sharp as I had in training, but I stuck with the commitment. The race itself was a blast. It’s always good energy when the local ultra community comes together. And on top of that, I got to watch an athlete I coach (Nicky Dupkin) crush it landing a PR and second place overall. Seeing friends and alike have big days made it all the better. Wins all around.
Race 2: Jack Bristol Lake Waramaug 50K
This was my first road ultra circling the peaceful and scenic Lake Waramaug in Kent, CT.
After S2S, I went in with no major goals other than to stay within range of my PR and race by feel. I was definitely carrying some fatigue, but overall felt solid. It ended up being one of the smoothest races I’ve run. Relaxed, dialed in, and floating in Zone 2 for most of the day which led to me knocking 30 minutes off the PR I had set just a week earlier.
Physically, I felt great after. But mentally? I started feeling the weight. The fatigue hit harder midweek body and mind. I had just one more race to go and it was the shortest distance, but the hardest terrain.
Race 3: Breakneck Point 42K
A brutal, beautiful beast of a race.
Breakneck is the essence of Beast Coast technical trail running. Hands-on climbs. Focus-demanding descents. It chews people up every year and yet the community and vibes are always incredible.
The day before, I watched my wife crush the Spartan Half-Marathon at Bear Mountain. I kept it low key, soaking in the heat, humidity, and bug-infested terrain I'd face the next day.
Come race morning, I was grounded. No expectations, just an understanding of what I had left in the tank and a desire to suffer well. And that’s exactly what happened. It was a slow, steady burn. But it was also the most enjoyable of the three.
Somewhere out there in the rocks, roots, and sweat-soaked miles, I found what I was looking for. I crossed the finish line flying runner’s high in full effect. What a day.
The Reconnection
In the end, this trifecta brought me back to my “Why.”
They say you forget just as much as you learn. And over the last few years, as I’ve grown in ability and the industry has evolved, I fell into that trap.
Comparing myself to others.
Getting caught up in gear.
Nutrition trends. Metrics. Marginal gains.
But none of that is why I fell in love with ultrarunning in the first place.
I started because of the purity and the freedom.
Because of the raw, unfiltered simplicity of testing your limits and discovering what you are truly capable of.
Because in that process, you get closer to something ancient.
Something primal.
Something that modern life has slowly stripped away.
You cannot fake the effort.
The distance will not let you lie.
You either did the work, or you did not.
Ultras force you to go deeper than you think possible. And in that struggle, you uncover a different version of yourself. More present. More resilient. More dangerous in all the right ways.
So while the hypothesis behind this effort was to mimic the final stretch of a long ultra, the real reward was something else entirely.
It was remembering why I started.
A return to the love of the pain, the process, the solitude, and the truth of ultrarunning.
The Stats
Shore2Shore 50K • April 19, 2025
⏱️ 5:21:49
👟 Norda 005s performed well feet felt great the entire race.
🎒 Raide 2L belt handled everything a vest would, and was a solid alternative in the heat.
Total Fuel:
Calories: 1,920 cal
Carbohydrates: 510 g
Sodium: 3,000 mg
Approx. Per Hour:
Calories: 369 cal/hr
Carbs: 98 g/hr
Sodium: 575 mg/hr
Jack Bristol Lake Waramaug 50K • April 27, 2025
⏱️ 4:32:52
👟 Mount to Coast R1 isn’t a shoe I’ve run much in since my 100 mile review, but it impressed me. Super comfortable and helped me maintain smooth pacing throughout definitely lives up to its long-haul promise.
Total Fuel:
Calories: 2,200 cal
Carbohydrates: 540 g
Sodium: 3,300 mg
Approx. Per Hour:
Calories: 490 cal/hr
Carbs: 110–130 g/hr
Sodium: 1,000–1,300 mg/hr
Breakneck Point 42K • May 4, 2025
⏱️ 7:23:59
👟 Scarpa Prodigio Pro performed excellently on wet, technical terrain.
🎒 Raide 2L belt continues to be an impressive alternative to a traditional vest setup.
Total Fuel:
Calories: 4,080 cal
Carbohydrates: 1,020 g
Sodium: 6,480 mg
Approx. Per Hour:
Calories: 544 cal/hr
Carbs: 136 g/hr
Sodium: 864 mg/hr
